Wire splicer



H. R. ESKEW 2,013,951

WIRE SPLICER Sept. 10, 1935.

Filed April 20, 1934 .5 I. \m av lm u M. II. WMOMVO Q ME: l rl 111 m ll l l -1 R v -m Vi Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WIRE SPLICER Hugh R. Eskew, Wendel, W. Va. Application April 20, 1934, Serial No. 721,607

2 Claims. (01. 191 44.1)

This invention relates to trolley wire splicers, and its general object is to provide a splicer that is primarily designed for splicing, taking up slack and stretching trolley wires in mines and the like where the wires are arranged in close proximity to overhead obstructions such as the ceiling of the mine in that the splicer can be easily and expeditiously actuated in close quarters.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trolley wire splicer of the character set forth, that will not interfere with the passage of the trolley wheel, is inexpensive to manufacture, simple in construction and extremely efiicient in use, operation and service. This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the splicer which forms the subject matter of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 3 is a topplan View.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 5-5 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 6-5 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral I indicates the body of my splicer which is elongated in formation and is beveled toward its lower portion to provide a relatively narrow rounded lower edge to assure free passage of the trolley wheel as will be apparent.

The end portions of the body are tapered toward their outer ends and for distinction are indicated by the reference numerals 2 and 3, and the end portion 2 has extending longitudinally therethrough a wire receiving bore 4 that has its inner end in communication with a channel groove 5, the latter extending longitudinally in the upper surface of the body and between a pair of parallelly arranged upright bearing members 6. The end portion 3 is likewise provided with a wire receiving bore 1 arranged longitudinally therein but terminates outwardly of the channel groove 5 as best shown in Figure 1.

One of the upright bearing members 6 is provided with a recess to receive one of the ends of a threaded rod 8 for rotation therein, while the 5 other upright bearing member 6 has an opening therein extending therethrough for rotatably receiving the other end portion of the said rod 8, this end portion, at its extremity, beingprovided with a squared head 9 for the application of a tool, 1 so that the rod can be rotated for a purpose which will be presently apparent. This rod at its points journaled in the bearing members is nonthreaded, and next to the head 9 is an annular shoulder I II which bears against the bearing mem- 15 ber next thereto. The rod 8 carries a lock nut II which binds against the bearing member 6 next thereto to hold the said rod against rotation, it being understood, of course, that when the rod is to be rotated the nut II is loosened and such 20 rod is then 'free for turning.

Mounted for slidable movement in the channel groove 5 is a crosshead I I that is provided with a lower portion shaped to fit the groove and includes an upper portion I2 which is provided with 25 a threaded bore threadedly receiving the rod 8, whereby upon rotating the rod 8 the crosshead will be moved to travel in the channel groove.

Threaded in each of the end portions 2 and 3 are a plurality of set screws I3 that extend into 30 the bores 4 and I for clamping engagement with the end portions of trolley wires, such as indicated by the letters A and B, and the crosshead has likewise threaded therein a pair of set screws I 4 threaded in openings that communicate with a bore extending longitudinally through the lower portion of the crosshead, as best shown in Figure 4.

While my splicer may be used for splicing and stretching trolley wires it is extremely efiicient in taking up slack, and when used for that purpose the loose wire is cut and one of the cut end portions, such as A, is inserted in the bore 1 and held therein through the instrumentality of the set screws I3 thereof. The opposite end portion is inserted through the bore 4 and into the bore of the crosshead to be held in the latter bore by the set screws Id.

The rod 8 is then rotated for moving the cross- 5 head to the right in the drawing, until all the slack is taken out of the trolley wire. The set screws of the end portion 2 can then be tightened against the end portion B. Of course, if the slack is not removed with one operation of the cross head, the set screws l4 can be loosened to allow the cross head to slide on the portion B to the left in the drawing, then the set screws M can be again tightened upon the portion B, and the cross head is again moved to the right. This operation can be continued until all the slack is removed from the wire as will be apparent.

From the above description and disclosure of the drawing, it will be obvious that I have provided a trolley wire splicer that can be easily and conveniently actuated in close quarters and particularly when the trolley wire is disposed adjacent to the ceiling of a mine or the like.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A trolley wire splicer comprising an elongated body having tapered ends and reduced toward its lower edge to allow for the free passage of a trolley wheel, said body having a channel groove longitudinally arranged therein, wire clamping means for one of the reduced ends, the opposite reduced end having a wire receiving bore extending therethrough and communicating with the channel groove, wire clamping means for the last mentioned reduced end, bearing means formed on and rising from adjacent the opposite ends of the body, wire receiving means mounted for slidable movement in longitudinally therein between the bearing means, means mounted in the bearing means for moving the wire receiving means, locking means for the moving means, and wire clamping means included in the wire receiving means. 10

2. A trolley wire splicer comprising an elongated body shaped to allow for the free passage of the trolley wheel thereon, spaced parallel bearing members formed on and extending from the body and the latter being provided with a channel 15 groove between the bearing members, wire clamping means at one end of said body and the opposite end portion having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough and communicating with the channel groove, wire clamping means 20 at the last mentioned end of said body, a threaded rod mounted for rotation in the bearing members, a cross head threaded to said rod and mounted to travel longitudinally in the groove between the bearing members, means whereby the thread- 25 ed rod can be rotated for moving the cross head, a lock nut for the rod and engageable with one bearing member and wire clamping means included in the cross head.

HUGH R. ESKEW. 30

the groove to travel 5 

